Movie Night: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

Review #492: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

Cast

William Shatner (James T. Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), DeForest Kelley (Leonard McCoy), Catherine Hicks (Gillian), George Takei (Hikaru Sulu), Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov), James Doohan (Montgomery Scott), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), Jane Wyatt (Amanda Grayson), Mark Lenard (Sarek), and Robin Curtis (Lt. Saavik) Directed by Leonard Nimoy (#337 - Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

Review

The fourth film closes out the arc left from the last two films, and it does a rather successful job of that, as Nimoy directs once again. For once, there is no clear cut villain, and it's a welcome approach, and it leaves a lot of room for the crew to have their own scenes, and it certainly works, because the film has a good deal of hilarity. Granted the story is...odd, but it certainly is unique, and it digs a way to be enjoyable. The acting is good, especially from Nimoy, who has his own chance to shine, but my favorite scene is when he's on the bus with Kirk and this punk rocker plays his loud music until Spock gives him a nerve pinch. The animatronics by ILM on the whales look really good, and the directing by Nimoy is excellent, and this is probably the best Star Trek film since the second one. It's a shame the fifth one (#225, directed by William Shatner) was so awful, but oh well, at least this one is a treat to watch. Countdown to 500 Reviews: 10, 9, 8...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Jingle All the Way.

Review #491: Jingle All The Way.

Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Howard Langston), Sinbad (Myron Larabee), Phil Hartman (Ted Maltin), Rita Wilson (Liz Langston), Jake Lloyd (Jamie Langston), Robert Conrad (Officer Hummell), Martin Mull (D.J.), and James Belushi (Mall Santa) Directed by Brian Levant.

Review
The first and (thankfully) only Christmas film that Arnold Schwarzenegger did, Jingle All The Way is the perfect way to depress your Christmas, and is a great way to waste 90 minutes of your life. The film likes to have action that barely makes any sense, especially with the jet pack, but my "favorite" part is the brawl with the Mail Santas, but seeing Schwarzenegger beat some...fraudulent mall santas is enjoyable. Speaking of which, Schwarzenegger looks like he just walked into the film at random, and to be fair, he technically did, joining production 9 months prior to production, but at least he is memorable, especially with his line deliveries, with such lines like "Who told you you could eat my cookies?" and Put that cookie down!", but I digress. But of course, Sinbad is around to...pester the audience, I suppose. Hartman isn't given much to do other then play a smarmy character, and the rest of the cast isn't much better, but what do you expect from a film that cares about hammering the commercial aspects of Christmas then plot/characterization? Turboman this, Turboman that, the film hammers in the point that apparently people will trample each other for...a toy. I already knew that, but I guess showing love for your son in the form of a toy is the most magical part of Christmas, next to the relatives fighting and the fruitcake. If you are really, really hard pressed to find a Christmas film to watch...I still wouldn't recommend it.

Overall, I give it 3 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

Review #490: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

Cast
Mike Myers (Austin Powers, Dr. Evil), Elizabeth Hurley (Vanessa Kensington), Seth Green (Scott Evil), Robert Wagner (Number 2), Mindy Sterling (Frau Farbissina), and Michael York (Basil Exposition) Directed by Jay Roach (#133 - Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and #134 - Austin Powers in Goldmember)

Review
What better way to get over a turkey/ham hangover from Thanksgiving feasting then to finish reviewing the Austin Powers trilogy...with the first film, but even reviewing them in order isn't important, given that all these films could just be watched in any random order (excluding playing them backwards) and still make some sort of sense. The film is alright, some of the jokes work, and others don't as much. Myers is mlidly engaging, and Hurley is good, pairing off Myers decently. I don't know if it's better then its sequel or not, but I'll take this film over Goldmember anyday, and while it sometimes can be awkward (There's a cameo by Tom Arnold...playing a cowboy. No, I am not joking.), it at least is alright to watch if you've got 90 or so minutes to use up. Countdown to 500 Reviews: 10...

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!)

Review #489: Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!)

Cast
Arrin Skelley (Charlie Brown), Daniel Anderson (Linus van Pelt), Patricia Patts (Peppermint Patty), Casey Carlson (Marcie), Bill Melendez (Snoopy, Woodstock), Pascale De Barolet (Pierre), Annalisa Bortolin (Sally Brown), Michelle Muller (Lucy van Pelt), and Roseline Rubens (Violette Honfleur, Patty, Violet) Directed by Bill Melendez (#295 - A Boy Named Charlie Brown, #298 - Snoopy, Come Home, and #424 - Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown)

Review
This is the fourth and last Peanuts film (for now), and a trip to other countries is certainly a new premise, and the focus of the film is never veered off course, it's an alright film that while being a bit short (70 minutes), it is entertaining. The voices (save for the everlasting Melendez, who directed and appeared in all four films) are new once again and they do an alright job with the characters we all know and love. The animation is decent, a bit better then Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown, and while it isn't too impressive, it's standard for a franchise like this. For once, adults are featured in this film, and while it may sound weird (though hearing that wa-wa-wa through this film would've annoyed me to know end) to hear adults, it at least makes sense to the plot. While it's not the best Peanuts film to watch, it's probably a little better then the last two, but in the end, all four of these films are recommended by me, because they certainly are good ones to grow up with. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.


Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Field of Dreams.

Review #488: Field of Dreams.

Cast
Kevin Costner (Ray Kinsella), Amy Madigan (Annie Kinsella), James Earl Jones (Terence Mann), Ray Liotta (Shoeless Joe Jackson), Burt Lancaster (Archibald "Moonlight" Graham), Timothy Busfield (Mark), Frank Whaley (Archie Graham), and Gaby Hoffmann (Karin Kinsella) Directed by Phil Alden Robinson.

Review
Being a baseball nut (as I am) will probably make this film even more of a treat for them, but even if you're not a baseball nut, this is still a pretty enjoyable film. This is my first time watching a film that stars Kevin Costner (Though my dad seemed to love watching his films on DVD when I was growing up), and he does an alright job, perfectly awkward in a film like this, and he pairs off really well with James Earl Jones, the two just mesh well with each other. But of course, the two actors who quite nearly steal the show are Ray Liotta and Burt Lancaster, and it's because their presences in the scenes each have just leave a lasting impression on me, and it really is a warming film that forgoes sentimentality it transcends into its own one of a kind of films. Costner joined this film because he felt this would be "this generation's It's a Wonderful Life", and I don't blame him because while it may not be one of the greats, it can certainly be watched any time, any day, and work just the same.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Twins.

Review #487: Twins.

Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Julius Benedict), Danny DeVito (Vincent Benedict), Kelly Preston (Marnie Mason), Chloe Webb (Linda Mason), Bonnie Bartlett (Mary Ann Benedict), David Caruso (Al Greco), Trey Wilson (Beetroot McKinley), Marvin J. McIntyre (McKinley's man), Marshall Bell (Mr. Webster), and Tony Jay (Professor Werner) Directed by Ivan Reitman (#026 - Ghostbusters, #031 - Ghostbusters II, and #243 - Stripes)

Review
I'm sure this idea seemed great at the writers' room, but the film itself is only okay at best. Schwarzenegger is effectively, even if he is playing a naive twin...who can certainly pull one, if not two punches. Danny DeVito is alright, and while the two doesn't always pair off each other particularly well, they at least make an effort. The film sometimes is funny, but other times it feels like just a film without a purpose, first it wants to be a drama about genetics, then it wants to be a comedy, this film cant decide on what it wants to be any more then a kid on what sport to play, so it's a mismatch of ideas. At least Kelly Preston is good, and has good chemistry with Schwarzenegger, more then Webb and DeVito, but that's just me. There's this other part involving delivering a car part or something, which almost comes out of left field, but other then that, Reitman either couldn't make the idea really funny, or he just gave up. But hey, it's not like they're trying to make a sequel 25 years later or something...Oh, right, they are. It is about as likely as the chance of Ghostbusters 3 ever coming in my lifetime, but oh well.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Kung Fu Panda 2.

Review #486: Kung Fu Panda 2.

Cast
Jack Black (Po), Angelina Jolie (Tigress), Gary Oldman (Lord Shen), David Cross (Crane), Jackie Chan (Monkey), Seth Rogen (Mantis), Lucy Liu (Viper), Dustin Hoffman (Master Shifu), James Hong (Mr. Ping), Michelle Yeoh (Soothsayer), Danny McBride (Wolf Boss), Dennis Haysbert (Master Storming Ox), Jean-Claude Van Damme (Master Croc), and Victor Garber (Master Thundering Rhino) Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson.

Review
Naturally, there is a sequel, given the first film's massive success. The film take a somewhat darker turn, but it works well to the film's advantage. Jack Black once again is effective, and he certainly leaves a good impression. The rest of the cast, especially Gary Oldman do good, and Oldman arguably does a better job portraying a villain then Ian McShane in the first film. The story is fine, and the animation is good, especially the animation during the flashback scenes. The action is good, and the comedy is nice, and this is a very effective film that leaves you yearn for more, especially with that ending, which is always welcome with me.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Kung Fu Panda.

Review #485: Kung Fu Panda.

Cast
Jack Black (Po), Angelina Jolie (Tigress), Dustin Hoffman (Master Shifu), Ian McShane (Tai Lung), Jackie Chan (Monkey), Lucy Liu (Viper), Seth Rogen (Mantis), David Cross (Crane), Randall Duk Kim (Master Oogway), James Hong (Mr. Ping), Dan Fogler (Zeng), and Michael Clarke Duncan (Commander Vachir) Directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne.

Review
This may sound a bit odd, but this is the 16th DreamWorks Animation film I've reviewed, perhaps in some way that makes a whole deal of sense, because the films always had a hook to keep my interest, and kept me intrigued. Well, most of the films (I'm looking at you, Shark Tale and Shrek the Third), not all, but a very big majority always had a sense of fun with fine animation. This I'm happy to say, continues that trend. Jack Black does a very fine job, but he's not the only one, even Dustin Hoffman gets in on the laughs, with him and Black having very effective scenes that contribute to a very fun film. The animation is breathtakingly nice to look at, DreamWorks Animation, no matter what decade, always did seem to keep up and look excellent (with one notable exception, of course). The villain is excellent, though seeing him not as much as everyone else is fine with me. This is a fun film that goes along extremely well, is fun for everyone, and overall, it's just a grand hallmark for DreamWorks Animation, once again. Now then, what's next?

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Plymouth Adventure.

Review #484: Plymouth Adventure.

Cast
Spencer Tracy (Christopher Jones), Gene Tierney (Dorothy Bradford), Van Johnson (John Alden), Leo Genn (William Bradford), Barry Jones (William Brewster), Dawn Addams (Priscilla Mullins), Lloyd Bridges (First Mate Coppin), Noel Drayton (Miles Standish), John Dehner (Gilbert Winslow), Tommy Ivo (William Button), and Lowell Gilmore (Edward Winslow) Directed by Clarence Brown (#423 - A Woman of Affairs and #433 - Angels in the Outfield)

Review
In light of Thanksgiving, I decided to review this film, as I get to talk about Spencer Tracy once again (Along with mention this being Clarence Brown's last film, who directed films for five decades), which is usually fun. This...is okay. The effects are good for the time, and the model of the Mayflower isn't too shabby. The actors are alright, they certainly do look good in the costumes and Spencer Tracy is alright, though for some reason he looks better in black and white then in color, but that's just me. I'm not entirely sure on the film's accuracy, but at least it doesn't look like it takes severe liberty with the history. The film isn't that entirely interesting on its own, and that may be the reason this was a minor failure when first released, as it didn't recoup the budget. But if you want some sort of way to not have to read books about the Plymouth Adventure (which is a bizarre title to begin with, even for a movie), this sadly might work. That....or read books, as Movie Night (mostly) recommends reading a book at least once in a lifetime.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Horton Hears a Who!

Review #483: Horton Hears a Who!

Cast
Jim Carrey (Horton), Steve Carell (Mayor Ned McDodd), Carol Burnett (Sour Kangaroo), Will Arnett (Vlad Vladikoff), Seth Rogen (Morton), Amy Poehler (Sally O'Malley), Dan Fogler (The Councilman and Yummo Wickersham), Jesse McCartney (JoJo), and Isla Fisher (Dr. Mary Lou LaRue) Directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino.

Review
When my enthusiasm after watching The Day of the Doctor today finally quieted down, I found something to watch, another familiar friend from the past. I've reviewed films based off the works of Dr. Seuss before (#210 - The Cat in the Hat and #301 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas), which ranged from mediocre (but understandably fine at Christmas time for others) to being awful enough to inspire me to make a poem about it. But anyways, making a Seuss story adapt to animated form is a really good idea, given that making effects for things like say, a speck, or an elephant, are more convincing then say...the makeup that made up the Cat in The Cat in the Hat for example. Then there's the film itself, and it's...okay, I suppose. Shockingly (I know, right?), it's probably the best Seuss film adaptation I've seen (excluding The Lorax, which hasn't been reviewed), but that's also kind of sad, when you think about it long enough. Once again, Jim Carrey stars in a Seuss film, and he...I don't know what it is, but his performance bugs me. Maybe it's the script, or possibly the multitudes of times where it seems he loses all subtlety, but he doesn't provide too many laughs. Steve Carrell on the other hand does bring me joy, and he makes me wonder why I haven't ever reviewed anything else he appears him. Carol Burnett does a fine job as...the villain, I suppose. I don't know if you can call her a villain, but she makes the best of it. The film is fine in the acting department and the visuals are excellent, and despite the brooding attempts of the pop culture references to get in the way, this is a fairly decent film that while not exactly a good film, it's probably the only Seuss film that I can recommend. That, or you could stick to the book, but oh well.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Bill Cosby: Himself.

As of 2018, Bill Cosby is a convicted sex offender. He had been accused of rape and sexual assault actions beforehand in this decade, but it was only in this year that he was tried on charges of aggravated indecent assault and he was found guilty in this year. As such, I am putting a strike-through on all of the text of my review for this film.


Review #482: Bill Cosby: Himself.

Cast
Bill Cosby (Himself) Directed by Bill Cosby.

Review
This is the first time I get to talk about Bill Cosby, and this is a unique sort of film to begin on. Not only is Cosby the main person in this film, he's the only person in what some like to refer as a "concert film". Cosby has had a lot of success, from starring on I Spy to Fat Albert to Cosby's greatest success, The Cosby Show (which used routines from Cosby's own stand up act), and other various ventures. Cosby is given all the time he needs in this film, and he uses it to great extent, his routines take a while, but they have a good payoff, and Cosby has a great voice as he mimics people in his life, and the pace works because Cosby uses his conversational type of comedy very well, and the material is certainly worthwhile to watch. the film is relative easy to watch because lasting 100 minutes is a decent pace, not too long, and not too short, still making you yearn for more. This is a brilliant act for Cosby, who always did make me laugh, either on television, or by this.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Party (1968).

Review #481: The Party.

Cast
Peter Sellers (Hrundi V. Bakshi), Claudine Longet (Michele Monet), Natalia Borisova (Ballerina), Jean Carson (Nanny), Marge Champion (Rosalind Dunphy), Al Checco (Bernard Stein), Corinne Cole (Janice Kane), Dick Crockett (Wells), Frances Davis (The Maid), and Danielle De Metz (Stella D'Angelo) Directed by Blake Edwards (#329 - The Pink Panther)

Review
The Party is probably one of the more ambitious comedies ever made, with about 35% plot, yet 110% gags, with Peter Sellers, who never seems to miss a beat, with everything combining into a bizarre, but funny, film. Sellers is odd, but given his bumbling performance in The Pink Panther, Sellers seems to play bumbling fools particularly well, especially when the film around him serves to show off his talent, but even the rest of the cast are fun to watch, especially given the fact their are so many characters in this film, and so many things for them all to do. The gags are endless, but they sure are memorable, especially near the end, which are too fun to spoil here. Edwards does a fine job directing such an elaborate film, which is evident in the house, a huge set, given the pools in and out of the house, and the many, many rooms, which serve to set up the gags, and for that I applaud Edwards. It's a mostly memorable film that will entertain most, if not all.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Jaws.

Review #480: Jaws.

Cast
Roy Scheider (Martin Brody), Robert Shaw (Quint), Richard Dreyfuss (Matt Hooper), Lorraine Gary (Ellen Brody), Murray Hamilton (Mayor Vaughn), Carl Gottlieb (Meadows), Jeffrey Kramer (Hendricks), and Susan Backlinie (Chrissie) Directed by Steven Spielberg  (#126 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind, #168 - Raiders of the Lost Ark, #169 - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, #170 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, #302 - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, #351 - Schindler's List)

Review
What can you say about Jaws, one of the first summer blockbusters, and Spielberg's first major success as a director, with the film that started the "animals gone bad genre", as I like to call it with examples like Piranha, Grizzly (which I will review eventually) Alligator, Day of the Animals, The Swarm, and several others. Roy Scheider does a fine job, as does Dreyfuss, but Robert Shaw is memorable and stands out especially in a sea of fine actors, much like how he did in From Russia With Love, for example. The terror is exceptionable, made more scary with the music by John Williams, and the fact you don't see the shark in person until over an hour in, providing much suspense. Despite a hectic production, the film was an exceptional success, and this film is, and always will be the best shark film ever made.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Travels with My Aunt.

Review #479: Travels with My Aunt.

Cast
Maggie Smith (Augusta Bertram), Alec McCowen (Henry Pulling), Louis Gossett Jr. (Zachary Wordsworth), Robert Stephens (Ercole Visconti), Cindy Williams (Tooley), and Robert Flemyng (Crowder) Directed by George Cukor.

Review
Travels with My Aunt may not achieve all that it could have been in terms of entertainment, but it at least tries enough to not fall too hard into mediocrity. Maggie Smith is charming, her presence keeps the film going, and she does provide some laughs. McCowen makes for a fine foil, with effective scenes between the two at times, especially in the second half. The rest of the cast is fine and such, not overacting too much. The film has slow moments that bog it down at times, but even that can't slow the film from treading on, quirks and all. It's a fine comedy, with splices of romance involved, which actually don't slow the film too much, and I do like how Smith plays her younger self, which isn't really seen too much in flashbacks in film these days. Originally Katharine Hepburn was going to star, but she would later back out, and Smith would take her place, and she certainly was a good replacement for Hepburn in this case. While the film could've been a bit less slow, it is a fun film, that has its share of laughs, and Maggie Smith is a joy to watch.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.